Owen Martin Henson

July 22, 1927

July 2, 2014

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     Dr. Owen Henson died July 2, 2014 at St. Francis hospital in Topeka. He was born June 22, 1927 at Bean Lake, Missouri, the son of Zelma Irene and Owen Munson Henson. Owen grew up in Elwood, Kansas, where the family ran a Hy-Klas grocery store.

Owen married Shirley Jean Skinner, from nearby Wathena, in 1947. They had two children; daughter Chris, in 1952, and son Scott, in 1955. Chris now lives in Tollhouse, California, with husband Eugene Zumwalt, and Scott resides in Meriden, Kansas, with wife, Linda. 

     Owen served in the US Navy, 1945-46 and was stationed in Long Beach, CA. Owen taught Social Studies at Boswell Junior High, starting in 1950, after receiving an A.B. from Washburn University. He received an M.A. from Kansas University and became a Social Studies teacher at Topeka High School in 1954. The next year, he was named Director of Instruction at THS. 

     The summer of 1959, Owen was named Acting Assistant Superintendent of TPS and then became Assistant Director of Instruction for the district that school year. Dr. Owen Henson earned his Doctorate of education from KU in 1961.

      He served on the planning committee for a new high school, Topeka West, and was selected as the first principal of TWHS in 1961. Owen helped design the campus-style, School Within a School concept for the new high school and was TWHS Principal until 1974. He then became Assistant Supt. Of Administrative Services in 1975, and Associate Supt. Of Management Services, 1976-84. From 1974-1979, Owen was also an Adjunct Professor for KU, teaching evening classes. In 1984, he was named Acting Superintendent for TPS, then became Deputy Supt. the following year. In 1987, Owen retired from TPS after 37 years of service, and became Associate Chair, Education Administration at Emporia State University. In 1981, he became an adjunct professor at ESU for several years. 

     Owen was a loving son, a dedicated and devoted husband, and a caring, nurturing father, who always had wise words for Chris and Scott. He was a wonderful grandfather for James Lanning, Lawrence, KS and Jessica Gnad, Pratt, KS, and for great grandchildren, Jack, Betsy and Ruby Gnad.

Dr. Owen Henson Dr. Owen Henson died July 2, 2014 at St. Francis hospital in Topeka. He was born June 22, 1927 at Bean Lake, Missouri, the son of Zelma Irene and Owen Munson Henson. Owen grew up in Elwood, Kansas, where the family ran a Hy-Klas grocery store. Owen married Shirley Jean Skinner, from nearby Wathena, in 1947. They had two children; daughter Chris, in 1952, and son Scott, in 1955. Chris now lives in Tollhouse, California, with husband Eugene Zumwalt, and Scott resides in Meriden, Kansas, with wife, Linda. Owen served in the US Navy, 1945-46 and was stationed in Long Beach, CA. Owen taught Social Studies at Boswell Junior High, starting in 1950, after receiving an A.B. from Washburn University. He received an M.A. from Kansas University and became a Social Studies teacher at Topeka High School in 1954. The next year, he was named Director of Instruction at THS. The summer of 1959, Owen was named Acting Assistant Superintendent of TPS and then became Assistant Director of Instruction for the district that school year. He was on the planning committee for a new high school, Topeka West, and was selected as the first principal of TWHS in 1961. Owen helped design the campus-style, School Within a School concept for the new high school and was TWHS Principal until 1974. He then became Assistant Supt. Of Administrative Services in 1975, and Associate Supt. Of Management Services, 1976-84. From 1974-1979, Owen was also an Adjunct Professor for KU, teaching evening classes. In 1984, he was named Acting Superintendent for TPS, then became Deputy Supt. the following year. In 1987, Owen retired from TPS after 37 years of service, and became Associate Chair, Education Administration at Emporia State University. In 1981, he became an adjunct professor at ESU for several years. Owen was a loving son, a dedicated and devoted husband, and a caring, nurturing father, who always had wise words for Chris and Scott. He was a wonderful grandfather for James Lanning, Lawrence, KS and Jessica Gnad, Pratt, KS, and for great grandchildren, Jack, Betsy and Ruby Gnad. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=171636219#sthash.ftqb7aN8.dpuf

Dr. Owen Henson Dr. Owen Henson died July 2, 2014 at St. Francis hospital in Topeka. He was born June 22, 1927 at Bean Lake, Missouri, the son of Zelma Irene and Owen Munson Henson. Owen grew up in Elwood, Kansas, where the family ran a Hy-Klas grocery store. Owen married Shirley Jean Skinner, from nearby Wathena, in 1947. They had two children; daughter Chris, in 1952, and son Scott, in 1955. Chris now lives in Tollhouse, California, with husband Eugene Zumwalt, and Scott resides in Meriden, Kansas, with wife, Linda. Owen served in the US Navy, 1945-46 and was stationed in Long Beach, CA. Owen taught Social Studies at Boswell Junior High, starting in 1950, after receiving an A.B. from Washburn University. He received an M.A. from Kansas University and became a Social Studies teacher at Topeka High School in 1954. The next year, he was named Director of Instruction at THS. The summer of 1959, Owen was named Acting Assistant Superintendent of TPS and then became Assistant Director of Instruction for the district that school year. He was on the planning committee for a new high school, Topeka West, and was selected as the first principal of TWHS in 1961. Owen helped design the campus-style, School Within a School concept for the new high school and was TWHS Principal until 1974. He then became Assistant Supt. Of Administrative Services in 1975, and Associate Supt. Of Management Services, 1976-84. From 1974-1979, Owen was also an Adjunct Professor for KU, teaching evening classes. In 1984, he was named Acting Superintendent for TPS, then became Deputy Supt. the following year. In 1987, Owen retired from TPS after 37 years of service, and became Associate Chair, Education Administration at Emporia State University. In 1981, he became an adjunct professor at ESU for several years. Owen was a loving son, a dedicated and devoted husband, and a caring, nurturing father, who always had wise words for Chris and Scott. He was a wonderful grandfather for James Lanning, Lawrence, KS and Jessica Gnad, Pratt, KS, and for great grandchildren, Jack, Betsy and Ruby Gnad. A memorial service will be held in late July. Details will be published in the Capitol Journal.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?n=owen-henson&pid=171636219#sthash.lKiY8PIk.dpuf

Dr. Owen Henson Dr. Owen Henson died July 2, 2014 at St. Francis hospital in Topeka. He was born June 22, 1927 at Bean Lake, Missouri, the son of Zelma Irene and Owen Munson Henson. Owen grew up in Elwood, Kansas, where the family ran a Hy-Klas grocery store. Owen married Shirley Jean Skinner, from nearby Wathena, in 1947. They had two children; daughter Chris, in 1952, and son Scott, in 1955. Chris now lives in Tollhouse, California, with husband Eugene Zumwalt, and Scott resides in Meriden, Kansas, with wife, Linda. Owen served in the US Navy, 1945-46 and was stationed in Long Beach, CA. Owen taught Social Studies at Boswell Junior High, starting in 1950, after receiving an A.B. from Washburn University. He received an M.A. from Kansas University and became a Social Studies teacher at Topeka High School in 1954. The next year, he was named Director of Instruction at THS. The summer of 1959, Owen was named Acting Assistant Superintendent of TPS and then became Assistant Director of Instruction for the district that school year. He was on the planning committee for a new high school, Topeka West, and was selected as the first principal of TWHS in 1961. Owen helped design the campus-style, School Within a School concept for the new high school and was TWHS Principal until 1974. He then became Assistant Supt. Of Administrative Services in 1975, and Associate Supt. Of Management Services, 1976-84. From 1974-1979, Owen was also an Adjunct Professor for KU, teaching evening classes. In 1984, he was named Acting Superintendent for TPS, then became Deputy Supt. the following year. In 1987, Owen retired from TPS after 37 years of service, and became Associate Chair, Education Administration at Emporia State University. In 1981, he became an adjunct professor at ESU for several years. Owen was a loving son, a dedicated and devoted husband, and a caring, nurturing father, who always had wise words for Chris and Scott. He was a wonderful grandfather for James Lanning, Lawrence, KS and Jessica Gnad, Pratt, KS, and for great grandchildren, Jack, Betsy and Ruby Gnad. A memorial service will be held in late July. Details will be published in the Capitol Journal.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?n=owen-henson&pid=171636219#sthash.lKiY8PIk.dpuf